April Almost Over Already!

It has been a whirlwind of chores since we got back.  I did have some stitching time.  The weather has been too beautiful to be inside during the day so I need to come up with an outdoor project.  It is good to be back on the bend.

Orchid Intrigue by Summer House Stitch Works

I wanted to do something with varigated threads.  I purchased a grab bag from Mo's Sale (they sell hand dyed threads) and simply have not been able to find any place to use them.  So, I used the pattern from Just Cross Stitch Magazine.  I used a 35 count linen in Watermelon and one strand of Mo's Pretty Bird.  It was an interesting stitch, and I have no clue what I will do with it.

I still want to do some other things with varigated threads, but it may be a while.

Mini Mandala IIC, Chatelaine

I framed the second of the set of three Mandalas

Mini Mandala IIB

I used the wrong thread for the algerian eyelets in the center, but I am not sure I am going to re-do them at this point.  They would be the dark green color and for some reason I had a brain face and used the variegated silk.

Books Reading Books, Heaven and Earth Designs

Also finished the second "row" of pages on Books Reading Books.  It is coming along and I am doing a version of parking that is making it a little bit easier.  I am working in columns by color and it seems to be helping.  I am just a little under half way done.  It amazes me how it looks when I step back from it.

That will about wrap up this month.  I am looking forward to some new starts for May.  I am kind of in a rut, but I do want to get some of these older projects finished this year.  One can always hope!

Thanks for visiting.

Finally in Texas

Another couple of uneventful traveling days.  The weather is fantastic.  

Wednesday

I have a serious question about parks in the desert.    Why is it that shade is so hard to come by.  When I lived in the desert I knew that shade was a premium.  It amazes me that every park we stay in has the West sun shining on the passenger side of the coach which is the area where you want to sit out in the evening.  It baffles me.  If you are in the RV park business i would think you would be more cognizant of what your customers needed.   However on the other hand if you are here in the winter, which is snowbird season, perhaps you like that sun in the evening.  Not my thing.   In addition, the WIFI service is not available, so you are getting this update a day late, Marj.  Sorry about that.  The park is Little Vineyard in Demming, AZ.  It is not one of my favorites.

I had a heck of a day with Autumn Leaves.  Holy cow I must have stitched, pulled out an re-stitched the zig zag three times.  It was so frustrating.  I have figured out that when I cross stitch I count blocks….open spaces…when I needlepoint I need to count threads.  I got so frustrated I had a cocktail right after lunch!  ha

Jasmine is enjoying the view from the front dash!

I am working on Mini Mandala IIB in the evenings  I had wanted to get more done, but that is just not happening for some reason.  

I am looking forward to finishing this third in the series of three.  Ready to frame them and hang them together.  

Thursday

We made it to Texas and are in Fort Stockton for the night.  We will be in Blanco tomorrow in time for the weekend.  

The weather is still great, warming up as Texas heads into summer.

I managed to finish the last portion of Autumn Leaves today.  It was not too bad and I am glad to have it finished.  I still have some of the extra metallic and detail to complete which should be no problem (she says confidently).  What I will do with it, who knows.  Perhaps I will frame it.  I have another Laura J. Perin project called Lilacs that looks like a companion piece to the Autumn leaves.  I will be doing that one during our next trip.

I will be posting from Blanco for a few months.  Hoping not to have another major flood this year!

Thanks for visiting.

Heading East at Last

Since our first park did not have internet access, these are the first two days of our travels.

Day One

It has been a heck of a day.  

We were less than two miles from the house and all the dashboard electronics went haywire.  Telling us we had no gas, no turn signals, no other things that we are supposed to have.  

So, we went straight to Santa Maria to the RV repair and spend a couple of hours there.  Finally they figured out they just had to reboot the computer.   All worked fine and we headed out.

We got about 5 miles to the highway and the repair shop called saying we left a dog there!  WHAAAT.  Sure enough, little Jazz left the coach while I was prepping to leave so we had to go back to get her.  What a dufus.  She was pretty contrite for a couple of minutes.  The manager said she had wandered into the shop area (thank goodness she didn’t just wander out of the area) and, although he said she would not come to him, he got her to follow him into his office where she whined and barked until we got back to pick her up.  What a ninny.  I, of course,  was having a spell.  I could not believe it.  I am SO careful when we are traveling.  Whew.

Finally we were on the road for sure only about 3 hours later than expected.  Tonight we are in Mojave.  We did not take the route through the LA area this time.  Although the roads are smaller and windier, it is a lot less stressful than going through the LA area for three hours of traffic.  Especially with the late start we got. 

This is a very nice park with lots of trees and that lovely desert breeze blowing.  It is fantastic.   We got in too late to get the WIFI code so this post will be done tomorrow.  

I got some work done on my needlepoint project Autumn Leaves by Laura J. Perin.  It is one of her on-line classes that I started last year during our trip.  Since I usually only do needlepoint while we are traveling the projects go a little slower than my others.  I am looking forward to finishing this by the time we get to Texas.  Here it is so far.

  

And this will be our first trip with our new recliner seating.  We replaced the couch that made into a bed with the two recliners and are anxious to use it.  Of course, based on this photo it does not look like we will get much chance!  

Day Two

An nice, uneventful day of traveling.  The weather is fantastic.  Warm and dry.  Every time we make this trip I remember how much I love the desert.  Weird I know.

I worked on Autumn Leaves today.  I had a real hard time.  You would think that it is simple but those zig zag parts in the upper right corner made me crazy and I ripped them out a couple of times.  Good thing I ordered some additional thread!  

Anyway, I have decided that counting in needlepoint and counting in cross stitch is distinctly different.  It has to be.  I had all sorts of trouble and finally ended up just adjusting the pattern to fit what I put in the third time!  Crazy.  I also did not even attempt to do french knots with Krenik metallic braid.  Seemed like a better idea to do little crosses.  I am still hoping to get this finished by the time we hit Blanco, but I am having a few doubts now.  I am having a little trouble with the bottom right corner zig zags but perhaps a fresh look tomorrow will get that section finished up at least.  Then I can work on adding more of the gold braid and perhaps tackle the middle section.  

We landed in Tonopah (you should hear the GPS try to pronounce it).  A really nice park and all is well.   We are all fine and looking forward to a good night of sleep.

  

Thanks for visiting.